Sharifi has been a CFO in the nonprofit sector for 16 years with extensive expertise in fiscal oversight and operations. Prior to her role at Lifelong Learning, she served as CFO at Radiant Health Centers and Western Youth Services – one of the largest mental health organizations in Orange County, Calif. that serves at-risk children youth and families.

For the past 20 years, Sharifi has been a community activist having served on numerous charitable boards, school boards, co-chair of the CFO Leadership Council and as the 5th Supervisorial District Representative on Taxpayers Oversight for Measure M.  She has been nominated seven consecutive years for CFO of the Year awards by Orange County Business Journal (OCBJ) and won the Outstanding Non-profit CFO of the Year Awards in 2019.  Sharifi was named to the 2019 OCBJ’s inaugural OC500, which is comprised of the most influential businesspeople and opinion shapers in the county.

She earned her undergraduate degree at Eastern Michigan University, and an MBA and a certificate in management and leadership from the Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business. She earned her Ph.D in organizational leadership from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Sharifi holds an IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) license that allows her to practice anywhere in the world.